It's official — the Say's Firefly is Indiana's state insect

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Students shine lights simulating fireflies as they greet Gov. Eric Holcomb Friday, March 23, 2018, at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette. Gov. Holcomb came to the school to sign a bill naming the Say’s Firefly as the Indiana state insect. John Terhune/Journal & Courier

Gov. Eric Holcomb shakes hands with Kayla Xu as she introduces him to the audience before signing a bill to name the Say’s Firefly as the Indiana state insect Friday, March 23, 2018, at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette. Xu, who is now a fifth grade student at Happy Hollow Elementary, wrote a paper as a second grade student at Cumberland Elementary School about the lack of a state insect. The paper was the initiative behind Cumberland Elementary's push to make the Say's firefly the Indiana state insect. John Terhune/Journal & Courier

Gov. Eric Holcomb is seated next to Kayla Xu for before signing a bill to name the Say’s Firefly as the Indiana state insect Friday, March 23, 2018, at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette. Xu, who is now a fifth grade student at Happy Hollow Elementary, wrote a paper as a second grade student at Cumberland Elementary School about the lack of a state insect. The paper was the initiative behind Cumberland Elementary's push to make the Say's firefly the Indiana state insect. John Terhune/Journal & Courier

State and local officials and students look on as Gov. Eric Holcomb and Kayla Xu sign a bill to name the Say’s Firefly as the Indiana state insect Friday, March 23, 2018, at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette. Xu, who is now a fifth grade student at Happy Hollow Elementary, wrote a paper as a second grade student at Cumberland Elementary School about the lack of a state insect. The paper was the initiative behind Cumberland Elementary's push to make the Say's firefly the Indiana state insect. John Terhune/Journal & Courier

Gov. Eric Holcomb shows the bill he signed to name the Say’s Firefly as the Indiana state insect Friday, March 23, 2018, at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette. Kayla Xu, who is now a fifth grade student at Happy Hollow Elementary, wrote a paper as a second grade student at Cumberland Elementary School about the lack of a state insect. The paper was the initiative behind Cumberland Elementary's push to make the Say's firefly the Indiana state insect. John Terhune/Journal & Courier

Gov. Eric Holcomb gives the thumbs up after signing a bill to name the Say’s Firefly as the Indiana state insect Friday, March 23, 2018, at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette. Kayla Xu, who is now a fifth grade student at Happy Hollow Elementary, wrote a paper as a second grade student at Cumberland Elementary School about the lack of a state insect. The paper was the initiative behind Cumberland Elementary's push to make the Say's firefly the Indiana state insect. John Terhune/Journal & Courier

Gov. Eric Holcomb takes a selfie with students and local and state officials after signing a bill to name the Say’s Firefly as the Indiana state insect Friday, March 23, 2018, at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette. Kayla Xu, who is now a fifth grade student at Happy Hollow Elementary, wrote a paper as a second grade student at Cumberland Elementary School about the lack of a state insect. The paper was the initiative behind Cumberland Elementary's push to make the Say's firefly the Indiana state insect. John Terhune/Journal & Courier

Gov. Eric Holcomb takes a selfie with students and local and state officials after signing a bill to name the Say’s Firefly as the Indiana state insect Friday, March 23, 2018, at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette. Kayla Xu, who is now a fifth grade student at Happy Hollow Elementary, wrote a paper as a second grade student at Cumberland Elementary School about the lack of a state insect. The paper was the initiative behind Cumberland Elementary's push to make the Say's firefly the Indiana state insect. John Terhune/Journal & Courier

Gov. Eric Holcomb poses for a photograph with students and local and state officials after signing a bill to name the Say’s Firefly as the Indiana state insect Friday, March 23, 2018, at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette. Kayla Xu, who is now a fifth grade student at Happy Hollow Elementary, wrote a paper as a second grade student at Cumberland Elementary School about the lack of a state insect. The paper was the initiative behind Cumberland Elementary's push to make the Say's firefly the Indiana state insect. John Terhune/Journal & Courier

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Students shine lights simulating fireflies as they greet Gov. Eric Holcomb Friday, March 23, 2018, at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette. Gov. Holcomb came to the school to sign a bill naming the Say’s Firefly as the Indiana state insect.(Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)Buy Photo

Several state officials, including Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, boasted about the persistence of a handful of elementary school students.

Now, after a handful of years, and even more bills, Indiana has a state insect — the Say's Firefly.

"When we work hard, when we work together and when we never give up, we can make a positive difference in our world by being involved citizens of our great state of Indiana," said Kim Bowers, Cumberland Elementary School principal.

Cumberland Elementary's gym filled with students and special guests to welcome Holcomb for the bill signing Friday.

"Guys, you did it. Congratulations," Holcomb told the students. "I couldn't think of a better place to sign this bill ... where it all began."

Four years ago, Kayla Xu noticed while doing research on the state, Indiana was one of the few states that don't have a state insect. So she and her classmates wrote letters and cards to get a bill naming a state insect.

"I'm so proud of all the work we've done," Xu said Friday. "Our amazing four-year journey has had its ups and downs, but we've persevered and we've made it."

The kids have fought for four years trying to get the bill passed. But it never moved out of committee, Maggie Samudio, a second-grade teacher at Cumberland Elementary School, told the Journal & Courier in January.

Holcomb said when he first heard about the students pursuing this venture, he was all in.

"Doctor, I've got the bug," he said. "Let's get this done."

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Gov. Eric Holcomb is seated next to Kayla Xu for before signing a bill to name the Say’s Firefly as the Indiana state insect Friday, March 23, 2018, at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette. Xu, who is now a fifth grade student at Happy Hollow Elementary, wrote a paper as a second grade student at Cumberland Elementary School about the lack of a state insect. The paper was the initiative behind Cumberland Elementary's push to make the Say's firefly the Indiana state insect. (Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)

When the students go out and see fireflies during the summer months, they'll have a constant reminder that they were a "big, big part" of getting them as the state insect, Holcomb said.

Twenty-five states have butterflies as their state insect, while 17 other states have a type of bee.

Current kindergarten students at Cumberland Elementary were 1 year old when Xu and her classmates first pursued getting a state insect, Bowers said.

The Say's Firefly has another connection in Indiana outside being named the state's insect.

Thomas Say, who's been called the father of North American entomology, lived in New Harmony, Indiana, where he did his research on insects, said Amanda Bryden, New Harmony State Historic Site curator.

He was living there when he named the firefly in 1816, shortly after Indiana became a state.

Say is buried in New Harmony as well.

Visit Posey County Executive Director Kari Mobley hopes having the Say's Firefly as the state insect will encourage people to visit Indiana as well as New Harmony.

Say's firefly took its name in the 1800s from self-taught naturalist Thomas Say from Posey County.(Photo: Purdue University illustration)